Non-payment

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

November 5, 1993

IF I, as the custodial parent of my son, did not provide him with the basic necessities, I could be charged with neglect. If I did not provide for his needs, and one day just up and disappeared, I probably could be charged with abandonment. Both are forms of child abuse; both are being done to thousands of children every day by deadbeat parents who think because they don't have physical custody they also don't have any financial responsibilities toward these children.

Automatic withholding of child support from a parent's paycheck is a great idea, but what about the deadbeats who continually skip from state to state to avoid paying child support? Once again, too little too late.

Non-payment of child support is a crime. It is a serious problem that this country should be ashamed to admit we have. As a result it is costing thousands of dollars to taxpayers who end up footing the bill for these deadbeats through welfare and other social services that must step in to help these children. Taking away a drivers license is no big deal. If people are willing to flee several states in avoidance of paying child support, a little thing like being deprived a license won't deter them.

These people need to be treated by our government like the criminals that they are. Unfortunately, their rights are protected far better in this country than the rights of our children.